Stubenberg (family)

Geschichte

Stubenberg is a noble family from Austria documented since about 1160, with its ancestral seat at Stubenberg, Styria. The dynasty held important posts in the Habsburg Monarchy and had hereditary membership in the Hungarian House of Magnates. They are in the line of succession to the British throne.HistoryOriginally from Pitten in present-day Lower Austria, the family's ancestors took their residence at Stubenberg in the March of Styria about 1160. One Ulrich of Stubenberg is documented as a participant of the Fifth Crusade, killed at Damietta in 1218. The Stubenbergs established conatcts to the rising House of Habsburg at an early stage and revolted against the rule of King Ottokar II of Bohemia, who finally was defeated by his Habsburg rival King Rudolf I of Germany in the 1278 Battle on the Marchfeld. Under Habsburg rule, the family members were able to restore their devastated estates; in the mid 14th century they had Neuhaus Castle (Burg Neuhaus) erected near Stubenberg and built Stubenberg Castle as their new residence.However, about one hundred years later, the Stubenbergs fought against the Habsburg Emperor Frederick III side by side with the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus. Once Frederick had prevailed, the Stubenberg possessions were seized and the dynasty retired to their estates in Gutenberg and at Oberkapfenberg in Upper Styria. From 1739 the Styrian branch of the family resided in the town of Kapfenberg.